21 April 2022
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Hon. Nestor Giro has outlined his Ministry’s 2022 development budget spending in Parliament yesterday (April 20).
Speaking during the current budget session, Minister Giro said his Ministry has aligned its development projects to the overarching redirection policy of the National Government which included for strategic actions specific to the Ministry.
These included (1) the provision of opportunities for rural fishers and communities through the promotion of on-shore fisheries and increasing the contribution of commercial and large scale tuna fisheries to the national revenue, (2) improving and strengthening the contribution of small-scale fisheries for food security and socio-economic benefits of fishing communities, (3) support indigenous resource owners in marine resource business management plans and (4) to strengthen Provincial and National Fisheries Governance.
The Government has allocated a total of SB$15 million to the Ministry under the 2022 development budget to address these four policy strategic actions.
Of the total allocation, SB$7 million will be spent on community livelihood programs which will address projects including (1) the Progress GIFT Tilapia aquaculture program, (2) reef trials of hatchery-reared juvenile sea cucumbers under the sea cucumber fishery management program, (3) expand seaweed farming to new sites in selected provinces and (4) support the implementation of Community Based Resources Management (CBRM) activities in provinces to support communities manage and develop their fisheries resources.
In addition, SB$4 million is allocated to the fish export infrastructure and fisheries centers program which covers (1) Support for implementation of the Russel Islands Fisheries program, (2) Supporting the construction of Fataleka Fisheries Constituency center (3) Improving Lata and Niola fisheries centers, (4) Expand Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD) Programme in the country and (5) Clear contractual obligations for Gizo 3-bedroom residence and MFMR HQ picketing fence work.
The final SB$4 million of the total is allocated to the Tuna Onshore development and processing program which covers (1) Progressing the Tuna Onshore Processing Plant in Bina, Malaita Province, (2) Progressing the development of electronic fish accounting system at Noro port, and (3) Enhance and expand the electronic monitoring and reporting systems for the longline fishery.
Minister Giro said the 2022 budget is inclusive, forward-looking, and people-centered which continues to promote investments, build infrastructure and create jobs and continues to address issues that resonate with the everyday struggle of our people.
“The 2022 budget of $4.383 billion, in my view, is one that will allow us to weather the current difficult storms and those ahead, building resilience in our systems, and contributing significantly to improving the wellbeing of our people,” Minister Giro said.
Source – GCU
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
